Kalanchoe plant named &#39;pellinore&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Pellinore’ is provided. This new cultivar is characterized by its bright pink flowers, dark green foliage, compact growth habit and excellent basal branching.

RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/644,669, filed on Aug. 20, 2003 which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/993,456 filed on Nov. 19, 2001, now abandoned.

LATIN NAME OF GENUS AND SPECIES OF PLANT CLAIMED

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Pellinore’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct Kalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Pellinore’.

The new cultivar was developed by the inventor through a controlled breeding program during August 1996 in the Netherlands. The male (pollen) parent of ‘Pellinore’ was the proprietary Kalanchoe blossfeldiana selection designated #92111-7 (not patented). The female (seed) parent of ‘Pellinore’ was the proprietary Kalanchoe blossfeldiana selection designated #93074 (not patented) characterized by its light pink flowers. ‘Pellinore’ was discovered and selected as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross by the inventor in June 1997.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings has demonstrated that the characteristics of the new cultivar as herein described are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It was found that the cultivar of the present invention:

(a) exhibits bright pink flowers,

(b) forms dark green foliage,

(c) exhibits a good basal branching character, and

(d) exhibits a compact upright growth habit.

The new cultivar of the present invention can be compared to ‘Light Jacqueline’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,268). In side by comparisons with ‘Light Jacqueline,’ it is found that the new cultivar is more compact, less floriferous and exhibits flowers of a brighter pink color. A detailed comparison can be found in Table 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. The plants were grown in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill., U.S.A.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The ‘Pellinore’ cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England. The color values were determined on Jan. 4, 2001 between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m. under natural daylight. The plants used for the following observations and measurements were produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 10 cm pots for sixteen (16) weeks. Plants were grown in a double poly carbonate covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice while utilizing a soilless growth medium and maintaining temperatures of approximately 82° F. during the day and approximately 66° F. during the night. Plants were exposed to three weeks of long days followed by 9 weeks of short days. Growth regulators were applied as follows: B nine, 3000 ppm at days 17 and 28 and 1500 ppm at day 42.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Kalanachoe blossfeldiana, cultivar ‘Pellinore’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Male (pollen)parent.—Proprietary Kalanchoe blossfeldiana             selection #92111-7.         -   Female (seed)parent.—Proprietary Kalanchoe blossfeldiana             selection #93074. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal tip.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7-14 days with the             shorter times generally being experienced in the summer and             the longer times in the winter.         -   Time to develop roots.—Approximately 21 days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Habit of growth.—Moderately vigorous with good basal             branching. A mature plant, at 16 weeks after the planting of             an unrooted cutting, commonly measures approximately 13.9 cm             in height and approximately 16.1 cm in width.         -   Branching habit.—Typically forms one main stem 10 cm in             length and 5 mm in diameter and 8 to 12 lateral branches             approximately 8.3 cm in length and 4 mm in diameter.             Internode length on main stem: Approximately 1.3 cm.         -   Plant form.—Upright and mounded.         -   Foliage.—Form: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite. Shape: Ovate             with obtuse apex, rounded base and crenate margin. Texture:             Glabrous, succulent. Size of mature foliage: Approximately             7.8 cm in length and approximately 6.2 cm in width. Color of             mature foliage: Upper surface between 137A and 139A; lower             surface closest to 137B. Petiole length: Approximately 1 cm.             Petiole diameter: Approximately 7 mm. Petiole color: 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower habit.—Freely flowering.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early January. Flowering time is             dependent on temperature, light intensity and other growing             conditions.         -   Flowering response time.—Approximately 11 weeks.         -   Inflorescence type.—Dichasial cymes.         -   Flowers borne.—Above foliage.         -   Flower longevity.—Approximately 7 days.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Approximately 36 flowers on main stem             and 23 flowers on each lateral branch.         -   Flower buds.—Shape: Elliptical, becoming elongated as it             matures. Size just before opening: Length is approximately 7             mm, width is approximately 4 mm. Color is 32C.         -   Flower.—Salverform. Corolla: Diameter is approximately 1.5             cm, depth is approximately 6 mm and aspect is cupped.             Corolla tube is approximately 9 mm long, 3 mm in diameter.         -   Mature flower color.—Upper surface of petal is closest to             43C at opening, becoming 55B with midib bush of 54B at             maturity and fading to 55D with midrib blush of 55B at             senescence; lower surface of petals is closest to 55 D.         -   Petals.—Number: Four. Shape: Obovate with cuspidate apex,             rounded base and entire margin. Approximate size: 8 mm in             length, 6 mm in width. Aspect: Slightly concave. Texture:             Glabrous. Appearance: Somewhat iridescent.         -   Sepals.—Number: Four. Shape: Lanceolate with acuminate apex,             entire margin. Size: 7 mm in length, 1 mm in width. Texture:             Smooth. Color: Upper and lower surface: 144B.         -   Peduncle.—Approximately 2 cm in length and 4 mm in diameter.         -   Pedicle length.—Approximately 5 mm.         -   Reproduction organs.—Androecium: 8 stamens arranged in two             groups of four—one group being shorter than the other.             Anther shape is oblong and flat; length is approximately             0.5 mm. Pollen color is 3B. Gynoeciuim: Stigma shape is             flat. Appearance is crystalline, colorless and transparent.             Style length is approximately 1 mm; color is 154B. Ovary: 4             celled, 7 mm in length. Ovary color: 144B. -   Seed development: Seed development has not been observed.

Disease resistance: Resistance to known Kalanchoe pathogens has not been observed. TABLE 1 ‘LIGHT CHARACTERISTIC ‘PELLINORE’ JACQUELLINE’ PLANT HEIGHT 13.9 cm 21.8 cm NUMBER OF BRANCHES About 10   12 COROLLA DIAMETER  1.5 cm  1.4 cm PETAL COLOR-FULLY   55B with midrib Between OPENED - UPPER blush of   68A and SURFACE - MATURE   54B   68B FLOWER APPROXIMATELY NUMBER  266  355 OF FLOWERS PER PANT LEAF LENGTH about 13.7 cm  7.8 cm LEAF WIDTH  6.2 cm  5.9 cm 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named ‘Pellinore’ substantially as herein shown and described which: (a) exhibits bright pink flowers, (b) forms dark green foliage, (c) exhibits a good basal branching character, and (d) exhibits a compact upright growth habit. 